1. A remote control device for at least three propulsion devices of a watercraft, comprising a pair of operating levers, a detection device configured to detect positions of the operating levers, a remote control-side ECU configured to control the watercraft propulsion devices in accordance with signals from the detection device, the remote control-side ECU comprising a plurality of respective ECUs corresponding to said watercraft propulsion devices, said detection device comprising a plurality of respective detection devices, at least one respective detection device corresponding to each of said watercraft propulsion devices disposed toward sides of a stern of a hull of the watercraft and at least one respective detection device corresponding to each one of said watercraft propulsion device disposed between said watercraft propulsion devices disposed toward the sides of the stern, wherein each of the detection devices is connected to a respective ECU.
2. The remote control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein respective ECUs comprise at least a left remote control-side ECU connected to the watercraft propulsion device disposed at a left side of the stern of the hull, at least a right remote control-side ECU connected to the watercraft propulsion device disposed at a right side of the stern of the hull, and at least a center remote control-side ECU connected to the watercraft propulsion device disposed between the left and right sides of the stern of the hull;
wherein said at least one respective detection device corresponding to each of said watercraft propulsion devices disposed toward sides of a stern comprises a left side detection device and a right side detection device;
wherein said at least one respective detection device corresponding to the watercraft propulsion device disposed between said watercraft propulsion devices comprises at least first and second center detection devices, and wherein said pair of levers comprises at least first and second levers;
wherein said left detection device and said first center detection device are configured to detect a position of the first lever, said left detection device being connected to said left remote control-side ECU, and said first center detection device being connected to said center remote control-side ECU; and
wherein said right side detection device and said second center detection device are configured to detect a position of said second lever, said right detection device being connected to said right remote control-side ECU, and said second center detection device connected to said center remote control-side ECU.
3. The remote control device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the center remote control-side ECU is configured to calculate a mean value of different detection values input into the center remote control-side ECU from said first center detection device and said second center detection device and to control said center watercraft propulsion device based on the mean value.
4. The remote control device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plurality of respective ECUs are connected for communication to each other.
5. The remote control device as set forth in claim 3, wherein connections between said plurality of respective ECUs and said detection devices corresponding to the respective ECUs, each have a circuit structure in which an independent power source and independent ground are provided.
6. The remote control device as set forth in claim 3 in combination with a watercraft.
7. The remote control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of respective ECUs are connected for communication to each other.
8. The remote control device as set forth in claim 2, wherein connections between said plurality of respective ECUs and said detection devices corresponding to the respective ECUs, each have a circuit structure in which an independent power source and independent ground are provided.
9. The remote control device as set forth in claim 2 in combination with a watercraft.
10. The remote control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the watercraft includes first, second, third and fourth watercraft propulsion devices, wherein the remote control device comprises first, second, third, and fourth respective ECUs, each being connected to a respective one of said first, second, third and fourth watercraft propulsion devices, wherein said at least one respective detection device corresponding to each of said watercraft propulsion devices disposed toward sides of a stern comprises a first detection device and a fourth detection device, wherein said at least one respective detection device corresponding to the watercraft propulsion device disposed between said watercraft propulsion devices comprises at least second and third detection devices, and wherein the first and second detection devices are connected to first and second remote control-side ECUs and are configured to detect a position of a first of said pair of operating levers, and wherein third and fourth detection devices are connected to said third and fourth remote control-side ECUs and are configured to detect a position of a second lever of said pair of operation levers.
11. The remote control device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said plurality of respective ECUs are connected for communication to each other.
12. The remote control device as set forth in claim 10, wherein connections between said plurality of respective ECUs and said detection devices corresponding to the respective ECUs, each have a circuit structure in which an independent power source and independent ground are provided.
13. The remote control device as set forth in claim 10 in combination with a watercraft.
14. The remote control device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first and fourth propulsion devices are disposed towards the lateral sides of the hull and the second and third propulsion devices are disposed between the first and fourth propulsion devices.
15. The remote control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of respective ECUs are connected for communication to each other.
16. The remote control device as set forth in claim 15 in combination with a watercraft.
17. The remote control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein connections between said plurality of respective ECUs and said detection devices corresponding to the respective ECUs, each have a circuit structure in which an independent power source and independent ground are provided.
18. The remote control device as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a watercraft.
19. A remote control device for at least three propulsion devices of a watercraft, comprising first and second operating levers, the remote control device configured to control the power output of all three propulsion devices with the first and second operating levers, at least first, second, and third remote control-side ECUs, at least first, second, and third detection devices, the first detection device being configured to detect positions of at least one of the pair of operating levers, the second detection device being configured to detect positions of at least one of the pair of operating levers, and the third detection device being configured to detect positions of at least one of the pair of operating levers, the first, second, and third detection devices being connected to the first, second, and third control-side ECUs.
20. The remote control device as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first detection device is configured to detect a position of the first lever, the second detection device being configured to detect a position of the second lever, and the third detection device being configured to detect positions of both the first and second levers.
21. The remote control device as set forth in claim 20, wherein the third detection device comprises first and second position sensors, the first position sensor being configured to detect a position of the first lever, the second position sensor being configured to detect a position of the second lever.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A flow cell comprising:
a first aperture configured to allow a medium to flow into a reservoir portion of the flow cell;
a second aperture configured to allow the medium to flow out of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the reservoir portion, wherein:
the reservoir portion is configured to contain therein at least a portion of the medium;
the reservoir portion contains at least a portion of a sensing surface of a piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensor;
the PEMC sensor comprises:
a piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end;
a non-piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is coupled to at least a portion of the non-piezoelectric layer such that the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer are not coextensive;
a base portion coupled to the proximate end of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the base portion is not attached to the proximate end of the non-piezoelectric layer; and
electrodes operatively associated with the piezoelectric layer;
at least a portion of the medium in the reservoir portion is exposable to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor; and
exposure of the medium to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor is enhanced under flow conditions as compared to the medium being static within the flow cell.
2. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of apertures configured to allow the medium to flow into the reservoir portion of the flow cell.
3. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of apertures configured to allow the medium to flow out of the reservoir portion of the flow cell.
4. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
the first aperture is positioned on a side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell;
the second aperture is positioned on an opposite side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the sensing portion of the PEMC sensor is positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture.
5. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
the first aperture is positioned on a side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell;
the second aperture is positioned on a bottom of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the PEMC sensor is positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture.
6. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein a length of the non-piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 10.0 mm.
7. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein a length of the piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 10.0 mm.
8. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein a width of the non-piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.
9. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein a width of the piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.
10. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein the medium comprises at least one of a liquid and a gas.
11. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flow cell and the PEMC sensor form a single integrated entity.
12. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, wherein the PEMC sensor is detachable from the flow cell.
13. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one baffle within the reservoir portion.
14. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a stirrer configured to stir the medium.
15. A flow cell in accordance with claim 1, the flow cell further configured to receive a plurality of PEMC sensors.
16. A flow cell in accordance with claim 15, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured to attract a first target material;
at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured to attract a second target material; and
the first target material differs from the second target material.
17. A flow cell in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured as a control sensor.
18. A method for detecting a target material, the method comprising:
causing a medium to flow in a reservoir portion of a flow cell configured to receive a piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensor, the flow cell comprising:
a first aperture configured to allow the medium to flow into a reservoir portion of the flow cell;
a second aperture configured to allow the medium to flow out of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the reservoir portion, wherein:
the reservoir portion is configured to contain therein at least a portion of the medium;
the reservoir portion contains at least a portion of a sensing surface of the PEMC sensor;
the PEMC sensor comprises:
a piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end;
a non-piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is coupled to at least a portion of the non-piezoelectric layer such that the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer are not coextensive;
a base portion coupled to the proximate end of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the base portion is not attached to the proximate end of the non-piezoelectric layer; and
electrodes operatively associated with the piezoelectric layer;
at least a portion of the medium in the reservoir portion is exposable to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor; and
exposure of the medium to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor is enhanced under flow conditions as compared to the medium being static within the flow cell measuring a resonance frequency of the PEMC sensor;
comparing the measured resonance frequency with a baseline resonance frequency;
when the measured resonance frequency differs from the baseline resonance frequency, determining that a target material is present in the medium.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the resonance frequency of the PEMC sensor is measured under flow conditions.
20. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:
stopping flow of the medium; and
measuring the resonance frequency of the PEMC sensor while the flow of the medium is stopped.
21. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising determining an amount of target material accumulated on the sensor in accordance with a difference between the measured resonance frequency and the baseline resonance frequency.
22. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising rotating the PEMC sensor about a longitudinal axis of the PEMC sensor for causing target material to attach to the sensing surface.
23. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the flow cell comprises a plurality of apertures configured to allow the medium to flow into the reservoir portion of the flow cell.
24. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the flow cell comprises a plurality of apertures configured to allow the medium to flow out of the reservoir portion of the flow cell.
25. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein:
the first aperture is positioned on a side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell;
the second aperture is positioned on an opposite side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the sensing portion of the PEMC sensor is positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture.
26. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein:
the first aperture is positioned on a side of the reservoir portion of the flow cell;
the second aperture is positioned on a bottom of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and
the PEMC sensor is positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture.
27. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein a length of the non-piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 10.0 mm.
28. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein a length of the piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 10.0 mm.
29. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein a width of the non-piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.
30. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein a width of the piezoelectric layer is in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.
31. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the medium comprises at least one of a liquid and a gas.
32. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the flow cell and the PEMC sensor form a single integrated entity.
33. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the PEMC sensor is detachable from the flow cell.
34. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the flow cell further comprises at least one baffle within the reservoir portion.
35. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the flow cell further comprises a stirrer configured to stir the medium.
36. A method in accordance with claim 18, the flow cell further configured to receive a plurality of PEMC sensors.
37. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured to attract a first target material;
at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured to attract a second target material; and
the first target material differs from the second target material.
38. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of PEMC sensors is configured as a control sensor.